News

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has issued a statement welcoming the "sovereign annuities" initiative introduced in the Dáil last week. 

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has stressed that it is vital that the ambitious deadline set for the potentially far-reaching review of defined benefit pension schemes announced recently by Minister Ó Cuív is delivered upon and a new protection system is put in place promptly.

The Society has issued a briefing statement on the “sovereign annuities” concept that has attracted media attention recently.

Submission to Financial Regulator on Investment Guarantees

The Financial Regulator published a consultation paper during the summer on “Investment Guarantees – Guidance on Reserving and Risk Governance”. 

The importance of security of occupational pensions has been highlighted by the financial crisis, and there have been calls for the Solvency II framework to be applied directly to pension plans to provide greater security for plan members. Whilst this is one possibility, it would have significant ramifications; other approaches may be more suitable for pensions.

STUDIES IN IRISH DEMOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has published a sample risk register to help pension scheme trustees and sponsoring employers, with the assistance of their actuarial advisers, to identify the various risks inherent in pension schemes and to manage these risks effectively. 

Scheme Actuaries, in particular, are encouraged to use the sample risk register to engage with their clients on the broad spectrum of risks, from financial to operational, that pension schemes face. 

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has prepared sample Protocols to assist actuaries who are appointed to advise the trustees and/or sponsoring employer of a pension scheme and who need to prepare a Protocol on the management of conflicts of interests in accordance with ASP Pen-13, Conflicts of Interests – Pensions Actuaries.

The sample Protocols are available under Press & Publications / Briefing Statements. 

Over 2,000 years after Aristotle argued that the earth is not flat, similar discussions are taking place (sort of!) for actuarial valuations. In a webinar on 30th June, organised by the UK Actuarial Profession, Hewitt's John Coulthard and Roger Moring will discuss the merits of using term-dependent assumptions for valuations from a corporate and trustee perspective respectively and will share some practical lessons learned.

The UK Actuarial Profession wishes to commission research in the area of modelling and understanding heterogeneity in mortality and morbidity risk which has an impact in areas of actuarial interest.

The Financial Regulator has published a consultation paper on "Corporate Governance Requirements for Credit Institutions and Insurance Undertakings".

The paper attempts to align corporate governance requirements with recent international regulatory initiatives in the governance field and proposes minimum standards that credit institutions and insurance undertakings will be expected to meet in this area.